Systems and methods for a health-related survey using pictogram answers

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium includes code to cause a processor to send a signal representing a first question and a set of pictogram answers associated with the first question and a second question, different from the first question, and a set of pictogram answers associated with the second question. The first question and the second question can define a health-related survey such as a health-risk assessment. The non-transitory processor-readable medium includes code to receive a user selection of a pictogram answer associated with the first question and receive a user selection of a pictogram answer associated with the second question. The non-transitory processor-readable medium includes code to define a health-related user profile based on the user selection to the first question and the second question.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 13/310,373, entitled “Systems and Methods forHealth-Related Survey Using Pictogram Answers,” which claims priority toand the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/524,915, filed Aug. 18, 2011, entitled “System and Method forExchanging Healthcare Information,” the disclosures of each of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a health-related surveysuch as a health risk assessment, and more particularly apparatus andmethods for a health-related survey using pictogram answers.

With the development and popularity of online social networking sites,people can share and connect with other people having similar interests.Additionally, companies can collect useful information associated withthe users of the social networking sites and use the information todirect ads, news articles, pictures, contact information, and/or thelike to a given user. For example, a health care provider may desireinformation associated with a given customers lifestyle in connectionwith health care services.

Health care is an important aspect of today's society and with healthcare costs continually rising, much focus has been placed on preventionand healthy lifestyles. Often, developing a healthy lifestyle can bechallenging and people may want to seek information, ideas,encouragement, and/or the like. To provide such things, surveys can beused to gather information about a person's lifestyle, as it pertains tohealth, to be able to deliver individualized information to the person.Unfortunately, some people may find known surveys boring and may lackthe motivation to complete known surveys.

Thus, a need exists for systems and methods for a health-related surveyusing pictogram answers to define a health-related user profile.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium includescode to cause a processor to send a signal representing a first questionand a set of pictogram answers associated with the first question and asecond question, different from the first question, and a set ofpictogram answers associated with the second question. The firstquestion and the second question can define a health-related survey suchas a health risk assessment. The non-transitory processor-readablemedium includes code to receive a user selection of a pictogram answerassociated with the first question and receive a user selection of apictogram answer associated with the second question. The non-transitoryprocessor-readable medium includes code to define a health-related userprofile based on the user selection to the first question and the secondquestion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a social health system, accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a survey module included in thesocial health system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a social health system interface, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a screenshot of a social health system interface, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a screenshot of a social health system interface, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a screenshot of a social health system interface, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a screenshot of a social health system interface, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a screenshot of a social health system interface, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a screenshot of a social health system interface, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using a social healthsystem, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium includescode to cause a processor to send a signal representing a first questionand a set of pictogram answers associated with the first question and asecond question, different from the first question, and a set ofpictogram answers associated with the second question. The firstquestion and the second question can define a health-related survey suchas a health-risk assessment. The non-transitory processor-readablemedium includes code to receive a user selection of a pictogram answerassociated with the first question and receive a user selection of apictogram answer associated with the second question. The non-transitoryprocessor-readable medium includes code to define a health-related userprofile based on the user selection to the first question and the secondquestion.

In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium includescode to cause a processor to send a signal representing a dashboardwithin a session at a first time. The dashboard includes a firstquestion and a set of pictogram answers and is configured to receive auser-selected pictogram answer to the first question. The non-transitoryprocessor-readable medium further including code to cause a processor tosend a signal within the session at a second time representing thedashboard including a second question, different from the first, and aset of pictogram answers. The first question and the second questiondefine a health-related survey such as a health-risk assessment. Thecode includes code to receive a user-selected pictogram answer to thesecond question through the dashboard and define a health-related userprofile based on the user selection to the first question and the secondquestion.

In some embodiments, a survey module can be configured to send a signalrepresenting a first question and a set of pictogram answers associatedwith the first question and a second question, different from the firstquestion, and a set of pictogram answers associated with the secondquestion. The first question and the second question can define ahealth-related survey such as a health-risk assessment. A database canbe operably coupled to the survey module and can be configured to storea health-related user profile associated with a user selection of apictogram answer to the first question and the second question.

As used in this specification, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, the term “network” is intended to mean a singlenetwork or a combination of networks.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a social health system 100 thatincludes a host 105 in communication with one or more devices (e.g., anelectronic device 160 and/or electronic device 170) via a network 150,according to an embodiment. The electronic device 160 can be, forexample, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), asmart phone, a video game console and/or the like. The electronic device170 can be similar to the electronic device 160 or can be any othersuitable electronic device described herein. The host 105 can be anysuitable host device (e.g., a web server, a network of servers, anetwork management device, and/or the like). The network 150 can be anytype of network (e.g., a local area network or LAN, a wide area networkor WAN, a virtual network, a telecommunications network, and/or theinternet) implemented as a wired network and/or a wireless network. Asdescribed in further detail herein, in some embodiments, for example,the electronic device 160 is a personal computer connected to the host105 via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the Internet (e.g.,network 150).

In some embodiments, the electronic device 160 can communicate with thehost 105 and the network 150 via intermediate networks and/or alternatenetworks (not shown). Such intermediate networks and/or alternatenetworks can be of a same type or a different type of network as network150. As such, in some embodiments, the electronic device 160 can senddata to and/or receive data from the host 105 using multiplecommunication modes (e.g., via a website, email, instant messages,barcode transmissions, using a mobile device application, using apersonal computer (PC) application, short message service (SMS), etc.)that may or may not be transmitted to the host 105 using a commonnetwork. For example, the electronic device 160 can be a mobiletelephone (e.g., smart phone) connected to the host 105 via a cellularnetwork and the Internet (e.g., network 150).

The host 105 can be any type of device or devices configured to senddata over the network 150 to and/or receive data from one or moreelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 160 and/or the electronicdevice 170). In some embodiments, the host 105 can be configured tofunction as, for example, a server device (e.g., a web server device), anetwork management device, and/or so forth. In some embodiments, thehost 105 includes a processor and a memory configured to execute a givenset of software modules. In other embodiments, the host 105 includes aprocessor (not shown in FIG. 1) and a memory (not shown in FIG. 1)configured to be operably coupled to a given set of hardware modules.

The memory (not shown) included in the host 105 can be, for example, arandom access memory (RAM), a memory buffer, a hard drive, a read-onlymemory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), and/orso forth. In some embodiments, the memory of the host 105 includes a setof instructions used to send a set of questions and answers to theelectronic device 160 and/or the electronic device 170, receive a set ofanswers from the electronic device 160 and/or the electronic device 170,and define a health-related user profile based on the received answers.The health-related user profile can include, for example, useridentifying information, health information about the user, and/orprescribed medications, as well as a user-controlled calendar, to-dolists, lists of friends, coaches, doctors, trainers, etc. Modules, asfurther described herein, can be configured to access the informationcontained in the user profile to display reminders for appointments,recommend online content, direct advertisements for medications, and/orthe like.

The processor (not shown) can be any suitable processor such as, forexample, a general purpose processor, a central processing unit (CPU), anetwork processor, a front end processor, and/or the like. As such, theprocessor is configured to perform a set of instructions stored in thememory. For example, the processor can be configured to send a signalrepresenting a question with a plurality of pictogram answers to theelectronic device 160 such that the question and answers are displayedon a screen of the electronic device 160 (e.g., via a web page viewedusing an internet web browser).

The host 105 can be configured to execute specific modules andcommunicate with the network 150 via a communication interface 140. Themodules can be, for example, hardware modules, software modules storedin the memory and executed by the processor, and/or any combinationthereof. The modules can include a survey module 110, a recommendationmodule 120, a content module 130, a reminder module 135, and a reportmodule 145.

The communication interface 140 is configured to communicate with thenetwork 150 and more specifically the electronic device 160 or theelectronic device 170. For example, the communication interface 140 canbe a network card configured to communicate over a network such as, forexample, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), theinternet, a cellular network via SMS or email, and/or any combinationthereof. In some embodiments, the communication interface 140 can beconfigured to communicate over a specific network based on informationwithin a user profile. For example, a user profile may includeinformation indicating the user would like reminders sent over acellular network via SMS, pop-ups, push notification, and/or the like.In some embodiments, the communication interface 140 can be configuredto communicate with a social media platform such as, Facebook®,Twitter®, Google+®, and/or the like. For example, a user can define anindication within a health-related user profile allowing thecommunication interface 140 to access information stored in a Facebook®user profile.

As described in further detail herein, the survey module 110 isconfigured to generate and update a profile for one or more users basedon questions provided to the users. The questions provided to the userscan be referred to as a health-related survey such as a health riskassessment. For example, a set of questions with a set of pictogramanswers can be sent to the electronic device 160 and based on theuser-selected answers received from the electronic device 160, a userprofile can be defined and/or updated for the user of the electronicdevice 160. More specifically, a user can use the electronic device 160to establish a user profile on the social health system 100 and thesurvey module 110 can be configured to send a signal representing aquestion and a set of pictogram answers over the network 150 via thecommunication interface 140.

The survey module 110 can be configured to classify each question sentto a user, for example, via one or more meta-tags associated with thequestion (e.g., categories, keywords, hyperlinks, and/or the like). Inthis manner, the information included in the meta-tag can allow thesocial health system 100 to define and/or update a user profile andfacilitate content selections, recommendations, and/or presentations ofinformation to one or more users (e.g., the user of the electronicdevice 160 and/or the electronic device 170).

The recommendation module 120 is configured to generate and/or identifycontent that can be relevant to the interests of a user. For example, insome embodiments, recommendations can be generated based on a userprofile. In some embodiments, recommendations can be generated based onmeta-tags, such as, for example, keywords, categories, and/or usageinformation (e.g., information obtained by a web cookie associated withonline activity). In this manner, the recommendation module 120 isconfigured to provide content recommendations to a user, such as,recommendations for websites, chat rooms, blogs, articles, videos, apps,profiles, locations, Twitter® accounts, Facebook® profiles, and/or thelike. Additionally, the recommendation module 120 can include a feedbackloop configured to improve the quality and/or accuracy of therecommendations. For example, the recommendation module 120 candetermine if a recommendation to, for example, an article was viewedand/or the time spent on a recommended website. In such embodiments, therecommendation module 120 can be configured to rank or classifyrecommendations based on the recommendations made to a user that werefollowed by that user. In still other embodiments, the recommendationmodule 120 can be configured to rank and/or classify recommendationsbased on a user based ranking system, such as, for example, stars, wherea greater number of stars indicates a higher relevancy to a given user.

In some embodiments, the recommendation module 120 can include adatabase (not shown in FIG. 1) configured to store informationassociated with recommendations. For example, the database can beconfigured to store user rating information, feedback, comments, and/orthe like. The database can be any suitable database, such as arelational database, a non-relational database with one or morerelational table structures, and/or the like.

The recommendation module 120 can be configured to communicate with thecommunication interface 140 such that the communication interface 140can provide a recommendation to the user over the network 150. Forexample, the communication interface 140 can communicate with thenetwork 150 over the internet and send a signal such that therecommendation appears on a display of the electronic device 160. Insuch embodiments, the recommendation can be a hyperlink for the user tofollow by clicking on or touching the portion of the displayrepresenting the recommendation, as described in further detail herein.

The content module 130 is configured to manage content associated withthe social health system 100. The content module 130 can access and/orreceive content from any suitable network, such as the network 150.Similarly stated, the content module 130 can access and/or receivecontent from other networks independent of the network 150. In someembodiments, the content module 130 can include a database configuredstore the content. Content can include any type of media or informationdetermined to be relevant to a user. For example, in some embodimentscontent can include informational material, advertising material, healthinformation, activity information, and/or any other suitable contentrelevant to a user.

In some embodiments, the content module 130 is configured to performnatural language processing techniques on content, such as, for example,an article, a discussion, a question, a profile, and/or the like. Forexample, the content module 130 can be structured as a natural-languageclassifier that implements deterministic, non-deterministic, and/ormachine-learning code or algorithms to classify content. In this manner,the content module 130 can classify the content using keywords,categories, ratings, rankings, etc. In some embodiments, the contentmodule 130 can include a database configured to store the content. Inother embodiments, the content module 130 can be operably coupled to adatabase (e.g., the database is independent of the content module 130).

In some embodiments, the content module 130 is configured to retrieveand/or incorporate advertising or promotional information based on auser profile. For example, the content module 130 can retrieve and storecontent relevant to a user based on meta-tags (e.g., keywords) in theuser profile. The recommendation module 120 can further be configured toretrieve the stored content and recommend the content to the user. Forexample, the user profile can contain a given keyword. Based on thekeyword, the content module 130 can retrieve content, such as adiscussion group, and store the content in a database (e.g., a databaseoperably coupled to the content module 130). The recommendation module120 can communicate with the content module 130 to provide the contentto the user in the form of a recommendation.

The reminder module 135 is configured to generate one or more remindersassociated with health or profile information to one or more users(e.g., the users of the electronic device 160 and/or the electronicdevice 170). The reminders can be automatically generated based on userinformation. For example, the reminder module 135 can generate areminder based on prescribed intervals associated with a medicine listedon a user's profile. In some embodiments, the reminder module 135 cangenerate reminders based on user, administrator, and/or caregiver input.For example, the reminder module 135 can generate a reminder associatedwith a scheduled doctor's appointment based on a user-generatedindication within the user profile.

In some embodiments, the reminder module 135 can communicate with theelectronic device 160 over the network 150, via the communicationinterface 140. The reminder module 135 can generate reminders such as,for example, SMS, emails, telephone calls, application notifications,push notifications, pop-up notifications, and/or the like. Additionally,the reminder module 135 can generate one-time reminders, recurringreminders, reminders based on activity or location, and/or the like. Forexample, the reminder module 135 can generate a daily SMS reminder basedon a predefined time a user takes a medication.

In some embodiments, the reminder module 135 can generate a reminderbased on activity or a period of inactivity with the social healthsystem 100. For example, the reminder module 135 can generate a reminderif a predetermined time period of inactivity associated with the socialhealth system 100 is reached. The reminder can be, for example, areminder associated with a user's progress towards a specific goal,profile completion, and/or other metric stored by the social healthsystem 100. In addition, the reminder module 135 can receive informationfrom the user to update and/or send a reminder to a different user. Forexample, a first user (e.g., the user of the electronic device 160) anda second user (e.g., the user of the electronic device 170) can beassociated on the social health system 100 and can share a common goal.The first user can accomplish the goal and information associated withthe accomplished goal can generate an indication received by thereminder module 135 to send a reminder to the second user to continue tostrive towards the goal.

The report module 145 is configured to generate one or more reportsassociated with one or more users based on user profile informationand/or user inputs. Additionally, the report module 145 can communicatewith the communication interface 140 to deliver a report over thenetwork 150. For example, the report module 145 can generate a reportassociated with the health of a user and distribute the report over thenetwork 150 to the user. In some embodiments, the report module 145 cangenerate and distribute a report to a partner organization withpermission from the user to receive the report (e.g., healthcareprovider, insurance company, pharmaceutical company, wellnessprofessional, and/or the like).

While not shown in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the electronic device160 and the electronic device 170 can include one or more networkinterface devices (e.g., a network interface card) configured to connectthe electronic device 160 and/or 170 to the network 150. In someembodiments, the electronic device 160 and the electronic device 170 canbe referred to as client devices and can include a processor, a memory,and a display.

The memory of the electronic device 160 and 170 can be, for example, arandom access memory (RAM), a memory buffer, a hard drive, a read-onlymemory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), and/orso forth. In some embodiments, the memory of the electronic devices 160and 170 stores instructions to cause the processor to execute modules,processes, and/or functions associated with using a personal computerapplication, mobile application, an internet web browser, and/or thelike. Furthermore, the memory stores instructions to cause the processorto send signal information to the display. In some embodiments, theelectronic device receives a web cookie from the host 105. In suchembodiments, the memory is configured to store the cookie such that thehost 105 can access data associated with the cookie.

The processor of the electronic device 160 and 170 can be any suitableprocessing device configured to run and/or execute a set of instructionsor code. For example, the processor can be a general purpose processor,a central processing unit (CPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU),and/or the like. As described above, the processor can be configured torun and/or execute a set of instructions or code stored in the memoryassociated with using a personal computer application, mobileapplication, an internet web browser, and/or the like. Additionally, insome embodiments, the processor can run and/or execute a set ofinstructions associated with receiving a cookie the host 105.

The display can be any suitable display configured to provide a userinterface to the electronic device 160 and 170. For example, the displaycan be a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD)monitor, a light emitting diode (LED) monitor, and/or the like. Thedisplay can be configured to provide the user interface for a personalcomputer application, mobile application, internet web browser, and/orthe like. In such embodiments, the display can be configured tographically represent the social health system 100 or any part thereof.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a survey module 210 that includesa memory 212 and a processor 216 and is operably coupled to acommunication interface 240 (e.g., a network card). Although FIG. 2shows the memory 212 and the processor 216 being part of the surveymodule 210, it should be understood that the memory 212 and theprocessor 216 can also implement other modules such as the report module145, the recommendation module 120, the content module 130, and/or thereminder module 135.

The survey module 210 is configured to send a signal representing a setof questions, each with a set of pictogram answers, and define a userprofile based on the user selection of the pictogram answers. In someembodiments, the health-related user profile can include useridentifying information, health information about the user, and/orprescribed medications, as well as a user-controlled calendar, to-dolists, lists of friends, coaches, doctors, trainers, etc. Modules, suchas the recommendation module 120, the content module 130, the remindermodule 135, and/or the report module 145, can be configured to accessthe information contained in the user profile to, display reminders forappointments, recommend online content, direct advertisements formedications, and/or the like. In some embodiments, questions can includestandard questions triggered from or related to a user profile. In someembodiments, the questions can be received from healthcare providers,insurance companies, health or wellness organizations, and/or the like.

The survey module 210 can be configured to send health care questions toa user to develop and/or generate a health-related user profile. In someembodiments, a relatively small number (e.g., 10) questions can be sentto the user during an online session (e.g., a period of time spent on ahealth-care related webpage). In some embodiments, the user can beprompted to select whether the user would prefer to answer morequestions during the session or defer to a second session to answer morequestions. The user can also skip one or more questions and to answerother questions.

The survey module 210 can also be optionally configured to inferadditional health-related information based on user-selected answers tothe survey questions. For example, the survey module 210 can sendquestions to a user associated with the user's weight and activitylevel. If the user-selected answers contain information indicating, forexample, the user is overweight and not active, the survey module 210can further be configured to infer health-related information such as,for example, the user can be at risk for diabetes, heart disease,depression, and/or the like. The inferred health-related information canbe associated with or included within the user profile, and can bestored in the user profile database 215 (discussed below). Additionally,the inferred health-related information can be accessed by, for example,an insurance company and/or healthcare provider. In some embodiments,the insurance company and/or healthcare provider can use the inferredinformation to validate their records.

The memory 212 can be, for example, a random access memory (RAM), amemory buffer, a hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), and/or so forth. In someembodiments, the memory 212 of the survey module 210 stores instructionsto cause the processor 216 to execute modules, processes, and/orfunctions associated with a social health system. Furthermore, thememory 212 stores instructions to cause the processor 216 to send asignal to the communication interface 240, such that information can besent over a network (e.g., LAN, WAN, internet, cellular network, and/orthe like.

The memory 212 includes and/or stores a question datastore 213 and auser profile database 215. The question datastore 213 can be a storagedatabase configured to store question data. The question datastore 213can be integrated with or operably coupled to (e.g., accessed via anetwork) the user profile database 215 and/or the processor 216. In someembodiments, the question datastore 213 can be one or more relational ornon-relational databases that store question data, such as, for example,available questions, questions displayed to the users, answers toquestions provided by users, one or more collections of questions withassociated answers, logic or triggers associated with one or more of thequestions and answers, and/or metadata associated with one or more ofthe questions and answers. In some embodiments, logic and/or metadataassociated with one or more questions and answers can provide arelationship between two or more questions and answers stored in thequestion datastore 213. For example, a logical structure can indicatethat questions should be presented to the user based on at least a partof a response to an earlier question. In some embodiments, the questiondatastore 213 includes multiple databases, including relational andnon-relational database structures.

The user profile database 215 can be a storage database configured tostore user profile information. The user database 215 can be integratedwith or operably coupled to (e.g., accessed via a network) the questiondatastore 213 and/or the processor 216. In some embodiments, the userprofile database 215 can be one or more relational or non-relationaldatabases that store user profile information. In some embodiments, theuser profile database 215 can be configured to store login informationto verify a user's credentials when the user is accessing the userprofile. For example, when a user enters login information into, forexample, a website associated with a social health system, the processor216 can be configured to retrieve the user profile information from theuser profile database 215 and communicate with the communicationinterface 240 to deliver the user profile information to the user.

The health-related user profile within user profile database 215 caninclude, for example, user identifying information, health informationabout the user, and/or prescribed medications, as well as auser-controlled calendar, to-do lists, lists of friends, coaches,doctors, trainers, etc. Modules, as described herein, can be configuredto access the information contained in the user profile to, displayreminders for appointments, recommend online content, directadvertisements for medications, and/or the like. As described herein,health-related questions can be used to define the user profile. Inaddition, the survey module 210 can be optionally configured to infer agiven set of health-related information based on the survey answersprovided by the user and to store and/or associate the inferredhealth-related information within the user profile.

The processor 216 can be any suitable processor such as, for example, ageneral purpose processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a networkprocessor, a front end processor, and/or the like. As such, theprocessor 216 is configured to perform a set of instructions stored inthe memory 212. For example, the processor 216 can be configured to senda signal representing a question and a set of pictogram answers to thecommunication interface 240 for delivery to an electronic device suchthat the question and set of pictogram answers are displayed on a screenof the electronic device (e.g., via a web page viewed using an internetweb browser.

The processor 216 includes a question management module 217 and adisplay module 219. The question management module 217 can be configuredto manage and/or access information stored within the question datastore213. For example, the question management module 217 can interact withand/or query the question datastore 213 using Structured Query Language(SQL), Contextual Query Language (CQL), and/or any other suitableprogramming language.

In some embodiments, the question management module 217 can beconfigured to present a thread of questions based on a users answers.For example, in some embodiments, the question management module 217 canpresent a first question and a set of pictogram answers and receive auser-selected pictogram answer. The question management module 217 canbe configured to provide a first thread of questions if the answer tothe first question is, for example, a “thumb up”, and provide a secondthread of questions in the answer to the first question is, for example,a “thumb down”.

In some embodiments, the question management module 217 can receiveuser-selected answers and be configured to compare the answers to onlineinformation about the user. For example, in some embodiments, thequestion management module 217 can send a signal representing a questionabout alcohol consumption with a set of three pictogram answers, suchas, for example, an empty glass (representing “I don't drink”), ahalf-full glass (representing “I drink a little”), and a full glass(representing “I drink regularly”). In such embodiments, if the userselects the empty glass pictogram answer (representing “I don't drink”),but the user's Facebook page indicates the user likes to go to bars,then the question management module 217 can be configured to tag theanswer as being “suspect.”

The display module 219 can be configured to generate a representation orlayout containing one or more questions to a user. For example,questions can be presented to a user as part of a webpage encoded usinga Hyper Type Markup Language (HTML) and/or the like. More specifically,the display module 219 can interact with the communication interface 240such that the communication interface 240 sends a signal over thenetwork representing the information from the display module 219. Thedisplay module 219 can generate HTML-encoded text, unformatted text, orone or more layouts based at least in part on user preferenceinformation, device information, accessibility information, and/or otherinformation associated with a user or electronic device.

In some embodiments, a user interface, for example, a dashboard, can begenerated by the display module 219. The dashboard, generated by thedisplay module 219, can include an interface to elicit feedback and/orreceive answers from one or more users. In some embodiments, the displaymodule 219 can generate a dashboard that includes a health-relatedquestion and a set of pictogram answers. The dashboard can be configuredsuch that the selection of a pictogram answer (e.g., clicking ortouching the portion of the screen representing the answer) sends asignal representing the answer to the question management module 217.The dashboard can be configured in any suitable layout and/orconfiguration, such as, for example, those described below.

FIG. 3 is screenshot illustrating a social health system interface,according to an embodiment. The social health system interface can beestablished by any suitable hardware or software, such as thosedescribed herein, to cause a web browser 375 to display a dashboard 376.For example, a social health system interface can be established by asurvey module (not shown in FIG. 3) similar to the survey module 210,described above with reference to FIG. 2. The web browser 375 can be anysuitable web browser 375 included in an electronic device, such that theuser of the web browser 375 can communicate through the social healthsystem interface over a network (e.g., the internet).

The dashboard 376 can include a question portion 377, an answer portion378, a badge portion 391, a level portion 394, a recommendation portion398, and a discussion portion 399. In some embodiments, the dashboard376 can define a health-related user profile configured to provideinformation to, for example, insurance companies, healthcare providers,caregivers, and/or the like. The health-related user profile can includeuser identifying information, health information about the user, and/orprescribed medications based on one or more questions contained in thequestion portion 377.

In some embodiments, the dashboard 376 defines a given layout.Alternatively, in some embodiments, the dashboard can have auser-controlled layout. For example, in such embodiments, the dashboard376 can be configured by the user such that the recommendation portion398 is moved to the location of the discussion portion 399 and viceversa. In this manner, the layout shown on the screen of the user'selectronic device can include the recommendation portion 398 and thediscussion portion 399 in substantially opposite positions, as shown inFIG. 3.

The question portion 377 is configured to display a health-relatedquestion and can be a part of a health-related survey. The questionportion 377 can be configured to display any suitable health-relatedquestion. For example, the question portion 377 can include questionsabout a user's health that could indicate to an insurance company orhealthcare provider certain risk factors associated with the user'shealth. In some embodiments, the question portion 377 can be configuredto display a question, at a first time, and a subsequent question, at asecond time, after the first, while in a common online session. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 3, the question portion 377 includes aquestion that states, “When was the last time you saw your doctor?” Theuser-selected answer from the answer portion 378 can send a signal overa network to the social health system 100 (FIG. 1) such that thequestion display module 219 (FIG. 2) displays a subsequent question.Therefore, in such embodiments, the answering of a question displayed inthe question portion 377 can be a trigger to display or cause thedisplay of a subsequent question that is different from the first. Insome embodiments, the answer to the question as selected by the user cantrigger or cause a specific string of questions configured to gathermore information about a given health-related topic.

The answer portion 378 included in the dashboard 376 is configured todisplay a set of pictogram answers to the question displayed in thequestion portion 377 and can be part of the health-related survey. Thepictogram answers included in the answer portion 378 are configured toinclude a pictorial representation of a statement answering the questionincluded in the question portion 377. For example, as shown in FIG. 3,the answer portion 378 includes a first pictogram answer 379, a secondpictogram answer 382, a third pictogram answer 385, and a fourthpictogram answer 388, in response to the question, “When was the lasttime you saw your doctor?” In this embodiment, the first pictogramanswer 379 includes a pictogram of a calendar including the number 3 andtext that states, “Within the last 3 months.” Therefore, the pictogramof the calendar including the number 3 is a pictorial representation ofthe statement, “Within the last 3 months.” Similarly, the secondpictogram answer 382 includes a pictogram of a calendar including thenumber 6 and text that states, “Within the last 6 months”; the thirdpictogram answer 385 includes a pictogram of a calendar including thenumber 12 and text that states, “Within the last 12 months”; and thefourth pictogram answer 390 includes a non-smiling face and text thatstates, “More than a year ago.” In this manner, answer portion 378including the pictorial representation of the answers can attempt tofurther engage a user when compared to answers in the form of textalone. Furthermore, a user can find the set of pictogram answers moregame-like and/or more fun to answer than text alone. Therefore, the usermay be more likely to answer the set of pictogram answers compared totext only answers.

The pictogram answers displayed in the answer portion 378 can define anysuitable number of answers in any suitable configuration, layout, shape,color, or size. In some embodiments, the pictogram answers can include aportion substantially similar. Alternatively, in some embodiments, eachpictogram answer is substantially different for the other pictogramanswers.

The answer portion 378 can be configured to send a signal to the socialhealth system (e.g., the survey module 210 shown in FIG. 2) when a userselects a pictogram answer. For example, the display module 219 (FIG. 2)can display a question in the question portion 377 and display pictogramanswers in the answer portion 378 as associated with computer code(e.g., HTTP and/or other programming language) configured to send asignal to the question management module 217 (FIG. 2) when the userselects a pictogram answer to the question. The question managementmodule 217 can store the answer in any suitable manner, as describedherein, to define or update a health-related user profile and canfurther be configured to send a signal to the display module 219 to senda signal representing a subsequent question. In this manner, when theuser selects a pictogram answer to the question, the social healthsystem can update the health-related user profile with the answer andupdate the dashboard to display the subsequent question.

The badge portion 391 is configured to provide encouragement to a user.For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the badge portion 391 displays a badge392 that states, “GOOD.” In some embodiments, the badge 392 displayed inthe badge portion 391 is in response to the user-selected pictogramanswer. In such embodiments, the user-selected pictogram answer can beassociated with a score, where the healthiest answer results in thehighest score. The score can further be associated with the badge 392such that, the highest score (e.g., the healthiest answer) results inthe badge 392 that states. “TERRIFIC!” In some embodiments, the badgeportion 391 can be configured to display any suitable badge 392, such asthose described above. In some embodiments, the badge portion 391 can beconfigured to display a graphic and or pictorial badge 392, such as, forexample, a thumb up.

The badge portion 391 can also include an indicator 393 configured toshow the user how many questions are left to answer in the user'scurrent online session. For example, in some embodiments, the socialhealth system can be configured to display four sequential questions ina common online session. Similarly stated, the social health system canbe configured such that when a user selects a pictogram answer to aquestion, the dashboard 376 will display three more sequentialquestions, with each user-selected answer triggering or causing the nextquestion to be displayed. Additionally, the indicator 393 will representthe number of questions answered during a common online session. In suchembodiments, when the user selects a pictogram answer to a fourthquestion, the user has completed all the questions for the given onlinesession and the indicator 393 can represent all the question wereanswered. In some embodiments, the indicator 393 can show the number ofquestions answered with shaded boxes, where the number of boxes shadedrepresents the number of questions answered and the number of unshadedboxes represents the number of questions left to answer. In this manner,the indicator 393 can be configured to represent the number of questionsanswered in a common online session.

As described above, the dashboard 376 includes a level portion 394. Thelevel portion 394 is configured to display a level 395 a user hasachieved towards the completion of the health-related user profile. Forexample, the level portion 394 shown in FIG. 3 shows the level 395 of auser as level “4.” The level 395 is configured to increase as the useranswers questions. In some embodiments, the level 395 can indicate to,for example, insurance providers, the involvement of a user.Additionally, the level 395 can provide a user encouragement to continueanswering questions.

In some embodiments, the level portion 394 includes a status bar 396configured to move along a range of positions between a first endposition and a second end position. For example, the status bar 396 canindicate a user's position (e.g., level of completion) within a givenlevel 395. In such embodiments, the status bar 396 can progress fromleft to right, with the end position on the left hand side being thebeginning of a level and the end position of the right hand side beingthe end of a level (e.g., the completion of a level). The status bar 396can be configured to move when a user selects a pictogram answer to aquestion displayed in the question portion 377. The level portion 394can be configured in suitable way. For example, while shown in FIG. 3 asbeing a horizontal bar, the status bar 396 can be vertical and displayedbelow the level 395.

The recommendation portion 398 of the dashboard 376 can includerecommendations from, for example, the recommendation module 120, shownin FIG. 1, or any other suitable portion of the social health system.The recommendation portion 398 can include any suitable recommendationsuch as, websites, chat rooms, blogs, articles, videos, apps, profiles,locations, Twitter® accounts, Facebook® profiles, and/or the like. Insome embodiments, the recommendations displayed in the recommendationportion 398 can be hyperlinks, such that, by clicking on arecommendation the user is directed to, for example, a website referencein the recommendation. The recommendation portion 398 can be configuredto display a graphical representation of a recommendation (e.g., aprofile picture, a picture included in an article, a video, and/or thelike) and/or a summary or portion of text included in the recommendation(e.g., a headline for an article).

In some embodiments, the recommendation portion 398 can displayinformation associated with the number of users that viewed therecommendation and/or display user supplied information, such ascomments, “likes” associated with Facebook®, “+1”s associated withGoogle+®, and/or the like. In this manner, the recommendation portion398 can be configured to communicate with a portion of the social healthsystem, for example, the recommendation module 120 (FIG. 1) to updatethe recommendation information. Additionally, the recommendation portion398 can be configured to update the recommendations based on theuser-selected answers to the questions displayed in the question portion377. For example, as described above, the recommendation module 120(FIG. 1) can include a feedback loop configured to receive informationfrom the user profile such that the most relevant recommendations aredisplayed in the recommendation portion 398 at a given time.

The discussion portion 399 of the dashboard 376 can include a set ofuser asked health-related questions. In some embodiments, the discussionportion 399 can include hyperlinks to discussions in which a user isinvolved. For example, the discussion portion 399 can include ahyperlink to a discussion board within the social health system. In someembodiments, the discussion portion 399 included in the dashboard 376can include discussions based on the user's question, while in someembodiments, the discussion portion 399 can include discussion followedby the user. In still other embodiments, the discussion portion 399 caninclude a combination of discussions based on the user's question anddiscussions followed by the user. In this manner, the discussion portion399 can act as a shortcut to, for example, a discussion board.

FIG. 4 is screenshot illustrating a social health system interface,according to an embodiment. The social health system interface can beestablished by any suitable hardware or software, such as thosedescribed herein, to cause a web browser 475 to display a dashboard 476.For example, a social health system interface can be established by asurvey module (not shown in FIG. 4) similar to the survey module 210,described above with reference to FIG. 2. The web browser 475 can be anysuitable web browser 475 included in an electronic device, such that theuser of the web browser 475 can communicate through the social healthsystem interface over a network (e.g., the internet).

The dashboard 476 can include a question portion 477, an answer portion478, a badge portion 491, a level portion 494, a recommendation portion498, and a discussion portion 499. In some embodiments, the dashboard476 can define a health-related user profile configured to provideinformation to, for example, insurance companies, healthcare providers,caregivers, and/or the like. The health-related user profile can includeuser identifying information, health information about the user, and/orprescribed medications based on one or more questions contained in thequestion portion 477.

In some embodiments, the dashboard 476 defines a given layout.Alternatively, in some embodiments, the dashboard can have auser-controlled layout. For example, in some embodiments, the dashboard476 can be configured by the user such that the recommendation portion498 is moved to the location of the discussion portion 499 and viceversa. In this manner, the layout shown on the screen of the user'selectronic device can include the recommendation portion 498 and thediscussion portion 499 in substantially opposite positions, as shown inFIG. 4.

The question portion 477, the answer portion 478, the badge portion 491,the level portion 494, the recommendation portion 498, and thediscussion portion 499 of the dashboard 476 can be similar in functionto the question portion 377, the answer portion 378, the badge portion391, the level portion 394, the recommendation portion 398, and thediscussion portion 399 of the dashboard 376. Therefore, some details ofthe portions included in the dashboard 476 are not described in detailherein and should be assumed to function similarly to the correspondingportion included in the dashboard 376, unless explicitly expressedotherwise. For example, the recommendation portion 498 included in thedashboard 476 functions similarly to the recommendation portion 398. Inthis manner, the recommendation portion 498 can be graphicallyrepresented similarly or can include updated recommendations whencompared to the recommendation portion 398 while maintaining similarcomputer code, executed by a processor, which can govern the display ofthe recommendation portion 498.

The question portion 477 is configured to display a health-relatedquestion and can be a part of a health-related survey. For example, thequestion portion 477 can include questions about a user's health thatcould indicate to an insurance company or healthcare provider certainrisk factors associated with the user's health. In some embodiments, thequestion portion 477 can be configured to display a question, at a firsttime, and a subsequent question, at a second time, after the first,while in a common online session. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, thequestion portion 477 includes a question that states, “Compared withpeople my age, I would rate my current health status as.” Theuser-selected answer from the answer portion 478 can cause a signal tobe sent over a network to the social health system (e.g., the socialhealth system 105 shown in FIG. 1) such that the question display module219 (FIG. 2) displays a subsequent question. Therefore, in suchembodiments, the answering of a question displayed in the questionportion 477 can trigger or cause display of a subsequent question thatis different from the first. In some embodiments, the answer to thequestion as selected by the user can trigger or cause a specific stringof questions configured to gather more information about a givenhealth-related topic.

The answer portion 478 included in the dashboard 476 is configured todisplay a set of pictogram answers to the question displayed in thequestion portion 477 and can be part of the health-related survey. Thepictogram answers included in the answer portion 478 are configured toinclude a pictorial representation of a statement answering the questionincluded in the question portion 477. For example, as shown in FIG. 4,the answer portion 478 includes a first pictogram answer 479, a secondpictogram answer 482, and a third pictogram answer 485, in response tothe question, “Compared with people my age, I would rate my currenthealth status as: .” In this embodiment, the first pictogram answer 479includes a first pictogram 480 of a graph including a first directionalindicator in a first, downward direction and includes text that states,“Below average.” Therefore, the first pictogram 480 of the firstdirectional indicator in the first, downward direction is a pictorialrepresentation of the statement, “Below average.” Similarly, the secondpictogram answer 482 includes a second pictogram 483 of a graphincluding a second directional indicator in a second, horizontaldirection and text that states, “Average”, and the third pictogramanswer 485 includes a third pictogram 486 of a graph including a thirddirectional indicator in a third, upward direction and text that states,“Above average.” In this manner, the directional indicators in thepictograms 480, 483, and 486 of the first pictogram answer 479, thesecond pictogram answer 483, and the third pictogram answer 484,respectively, can be assigned a value representing a level of health,with the first directional indicator associated with a lowest value, thesecond directional indicator associated with a middle value, and thethird directional indicator associated with a highest value.

The answer portion 478 can be configured to send a signal to the socialhealth system (e.g., the survey module 210 shown in FIG. 2) when a userselects a pictogram answer. For example, the display module 219 (FIG. 2)can display a question in the question portion 477 and display pictogramanswers in the answer portion 478 associated with a computer code (e.g.,HTTP and/or other programming language) configured to send a signal tothe question management module 217 (FIG. 2) when the user selects apictogram answer to the question. The question management module 217 canstore the answer in, for example, the question datastore 213, or anysuitable manner described herein, to define or update a health-relateduser profile and can further be configured to send a signal to thedisplay module 219 to send a signal representing a subsequent question.In this manner, when the user selects a pictogram answer to thequestion, the social health system can define and/or update thehealth-related user profile with the answer and update the dashboard todisplay the subsequent question.

FIG. 5 is screenshot illustrating a social health system interface,according to an embodiment. The social health system interface can beestablished by any suitable hardware or software, such as thosedescribed herein, to cause a web browser 575 to display a dashboard 576.For example, a social health system interface can be established by asurvey module (not shown in FIG. 5) similar to the survey module 210,described above with reference to FIG. 2. The web browser 575 can be anysuitable web browser 575 included in an electronic device, such that theuser of the web browser 575 can communicate through the social healthsystem interface over a network (e.g., the internet).

The dashboard 576 can include a question portion 577, an answer portion578, a badge portion 591, a level portion 594, a recommendation portion598, and a discussion portion 599. In some embodiments, the dashboard576 can define a health-related user profile configured to provideinformation to, for example, insurance companies, healthcare providers,caregivers, and/or the like. The health-related user profile can includeuser identifying information, health information about the user, and/orprescribed medications based on one or more questions contained in thequestion portion 577.

In some embodiments, the dashboard 576 defines a given layout.Alternatively, in some embodiments, the dashboard 576 can include auser-controlled layout. For example, while shown in FIG. 5 as defining aspecific layout, the dashboard 576 can be configured by the user suchthat the recommendation portion 598 is moved to the location of thediscussion portion 599 and vice versa. In this manner, the layout shownon the screen of the user's electronic device can include therecommendation portion 598 and the discussion portion 599 insubstantially opposite positions, as shown in FIG. 5.

The question portion 577, the answer portion 578, the badge portion 591,the level portion 594, the recommendation portion 598, and thediscussion portion 599 of the dashboard 576 can be similar in functionto the question portion 377, the answer portion 378, the badge portion391, the level portion 394, the recommendation portion 398, and thediscussion portion 399 of the dashboard 376. Therefore, some details ofthe portions included in the dashboard 576 are not described in detailherein and should be assumed to function similarly to the correspondingportion included in the dashboard 376, unless explicit expressed. Forexample, the recommendation portion 598 included in the dashboard 576functions similarly to the recommendation portion 398. In this manner,the recommendation portion 598 can be graphically represented similarlyor can include updated recommendations when compared to therecommendation portion 398 while maintaining similar computer code,executed by a processor, which can govern the display of therecommendation portion 598.

The question portion 577 is configured to display a health-relatedquestion and can be a part of a health-related survey. For example, thequestion portion 577 can include questions about a user's health thatcould indicate to an insurance company or healthcare provider certainrisk factors associated with the user's health. In some embodiments, thequestion portion 577 can be configured to display a question, at a firsttime, and a subsequent question, at a second time, after the first,while in a common online session. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, thequestion portion 577 includes a question that states, “Do you needtransportation assistance in order to see your doctor?” Theuser-selected answer from the answer portion 578 can send a signal overa network to the social health system (e.g., the social health system105 shown in FIG. 1) such that the question display module 219 (FIG. 2)displays a subsequent question. Therefore, in such embodiments, theanswering of a question displayed in the question portion 577 cantrigger or cause display of a subsequent question that is different fromthe first. In some embodiments, the answer to the question as selectedby the user can trigger or cause a specific string of questionsconfigured to gather more information about a given health-relatedtopic.

The answer portion 578 included in the dashboard 578 is configured todisplay a set of pictogram answers to the question displayed in thequestion portion 577 and can be part of the health-related survey. Thepictogram answers included in the answer portion 578 are configured toinclude a pictorial representation of a statement answering the questionincluded in the question portion 577. For example, as shown in FIG. 5,the answer portion 578 includes a first pictogram answer 579, a secondpictogram answer 582, and a third pictogram answer 585, in response tothe question, “Do you need transportation assistance in order to seeyour doctor?” In this embodiment, the first pictogram answer 579includes a first pictogram 580 of a check mark and includes text thatstates, “Yes.” Therefore, the first pictogram 580 of the check mark is apictorial representation of the statement, “Yes.” Similarly, the secondpictogram answer 582 includes a second pictogram 583 of the check markand an “X” and text that states, “Sometimes,” and the third pictogramanswer 585 includes a third pictogram 586 of the “X” and text thatstates, “No.”

In this manner, the pictogram answers included in the answer portion 578can include at least a portion that is similar to at least one otherpictogram answer. More specifically, the first pictogram answer 579includes the first pictogram 580 of the check mark, the second pictogramanswer 582 includes the second pictogram 583 of the check mark and the“X”, and the third pictogram answer 585 includes the third pictogram 586of the “X”. Therefore, a portion of the first pictogram answer 579 isconfigured to be similar to a portion of the second pictogram answer 582and a portion of the third pictogram answer 585 is similar to a secondportion of the second pictogram answer 582.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, a web browser 675 can be configuredto show a dashboard 676 including a question portion 677, and an answerportion 678, such that a set of pictogram answers included in the answerportion 678 are dissimilar from each other. More specifically, theanswer portion 678 can include a first pictogram answer 679, a secondpictogram answer 682, and a third pictogram answer 685 in response tothe question, “Which best describes your daily energy level?” displayedin the question portion 677 of the dashboard 376. The first pictogramanswer 679 includes a first pictogram 680 of a person in a hunchedposition and text that states, “Sluggish.” Therefore, the firstpictogram 680 is a pictorial representation of the statement,“Sluggish.” Similarly, the second pictogram answer 682 includes a secondpictogram 683 of a graph with a directional indicator in a horizontalconfiguration and text that states, “Up and down”, and the thirdpictogram answer 685 that includes a third pictogram 686 of a personrunning and text that states, “Full of energy.” Therefore, as shown inFIG. 6, the first pictogram 680 of the first pictogram answer 679, thesecond pictogram 683 of the second pictogram answer 682, and the thirdpictogram 686 of the third pictogram answer 685 are substantiallydifferent from one another.

FIG. 7 is screenshot illustrating a social health system interface,according to an embodiment. The social health system interface can beestablished by any suitable hardware or software, such as thosedescribed herein, to cause a web browser 775 to display a dashboard 776.For example, a social health system interface can include a surveymodule (not shown in FIG. 7) similar to the survey module 210, describedabove with reference to FIG. 2. The web browser 775 can be any suitableweb browser 775 included in an electronic device, such that the user ofthe web browser 775 can communicate through the social health systeminterface over a network (e.g., the internet).

The dashboard 776 can include a question portion 777, an answer portion778, a badge portion 791, a level portion 794, a recommendation portion798, and a discussion portion 799. In some embodiments, the dashboard776 can define a health-related user profile configured to provideinformation to, for example, insurance companies, healthcare providers,caregivers, and/or the like. The health-related user profile can includeuser identifying information, health information about the user, and/orprescribed medications based on one or more questions contained in thequestion portion 777.

The question portion 777, the answer portion 778, the badge portion 791,the level portion 794, the recommendation portion 798, and thediscussion portion 799 of the dashboard 776 can be similar in functionto the question portion 377, the answer portion 378, the badge portion391, the level portion 394, the recommendation portion 398, and thediscussion portion 399 of the dashboard 376. Therefore, some details ofthe portions included in the dashboard 776 are not described in detailherein and should be assumed to function similarly to the correspondingportion included in the dashboard 376, unless explicit expressed.

The question portion 777 is configured to display a health-relatedquestion and can be a part of a health-related survey. For example, thequestion portion 777 can include questions about a user's health thatcould indicate to an insurance company or healthcare provider certainrisk factors associated with the user's health. In some embodiments, thequestion portion 777 can be configured to display a question, at a firsttime, and a subsequent question, at a second time, after the first,while in a common online session. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, thequestion portion 777 includes a question that states, “What is yourcurrent marital or relationship status?” The user-selected answer fromthe answer portion 778 can send a signal over a network to the socialhealth system (e.g., the social health system 105 shown in FIG. 1) suchthat the question display module 219 (FIG. 2) displays a subsequentquestion. Therefore, in such embodiments, the answering of a questiondisplayed in the question portion 777 can trigger or cause display of asubsequent question that is different from the first. In someembodiments, the answer to the question as selected by the user cantrigger or cause a specific string of questions configured to gathermore information about a given health-related topic.

The answer portion 778 included in the dashboard 778 is configured todisplay a set of pictogram answers to the question displayed in thequestion portion 777 and can be part of the health-related survey. Thepictogram answers included in the answer portion 778 are configured toinclude a pictorial representation of a statement answering the questionincluded in the question portion 777. For example, as shown in FIG. 7,the answer portion 778 includes a first pictogram answer 779, a secondpictogram answer 782, a third pictogram answer 785, and a fourthpictogram answer 788 in response to the question, “What is your currentmarital or relationship status?” In this embodiment, the first pictogramanswer 779 includes a first pictogram 780 of a man and includes textthat states, “Single.” Therefore, the first pictogram 780 is a pictorialrepresentation of the statement, “Single.” Furthermore, the answerportion 778 can be configured to note if the user is male or femalebased on the user profile information. In this manner, the answerportion 778 can be configured to display the first pictogram 780 of theman if the user profile indicates the user is a male and to display thefirst pictogram 780 of a woman if the user profile indicates the user isa female. The second pictogram answer 782 includes a second pictogram783 of a male and female and text that states, “In a relationship.” Thesecond pictogram 783 of the second pictogram answer can be configured toinclude a portion that is similar to a portion of the first pictogram780 of the first pictogram answer 779. For example, the first pictogram780 includes the man and the second pictogram 783 includes the man andthe woman. The third pictogram answer 785 includes a third pictogram 786of wedding bands and text that states, “Married.” The fourth pictogramanswer 788 includes a fourth pictogram 789 of the man and woman and afifth pictogram 790 of a broken heart and text that states, “Divorced.”In this manner, the fourth pictogram answer 788 includes multiplepictograms to represent the text included in the fourth pictogram answer788. In some embodiments, the fifth pictogram 790 can be in contact withthe fourth pictogram 789. In other embodiments, the first, second,and/or third pictogram answer can include a plurality of pictograms.

FIG. 8 is screenshot illustrating a social health system interface,according to an embodiment. The social health system interface can beestablished by any suitable hardware or software, such as thosedescribed herein, to cause a web browser 875 to display a dashboard 876.For example, a social health system interface can be established by asurvey module (not shown in FIG. 8) similar to the survey module 210,described above with reference to FIG. 2. The web browser 875 can be anysuitable web browser 875 included in an electronic device, such that theuser of the web browser 875 can communicate through the social healthsystem interface over a network (e.g., the internet).

The dashboard 876 can include a question portion 877, an answer portion878, a badge portion 891, a level portion 894, a recommendation portion898, and a discussion portion 899. In some embodiments, the dashboard876 can define a health-related user profile configured to provideinformation to, for example, insurance companies, healthcare providers,caregivers, and/or the like. The health-related user profile can includeuser identifying information, health information about the user, and/orprescribed medications based on one or more questions contained in thequestion portion 877.

The question portion 877, the answer portion 878, the badge portion 891,the level portion 894, the recommendation portion 898, and thediscussion portion 899 of the dashboard 876 can be similar in functionto the question portion 377, the answer portion 378, the badge portion391, the level portion 394, the recommendation portion 398, and thediscussion portion 399 of the dashboard 376. Therefore, some details ofthe portions included in the dashboard 876 are not described in detailherein and should be assumed to function similarly to the correspondingportion included in the dashboard 376, unless explicit expressed.

The question portion 877 is configured to display a health-relatedquestion and can be a part of a health-related survey. For example, thequestion portion 877 can include questions about a user's health thatcould indicate to an insurance company or healthcare provider certainrisk factors associated with the user's health. In some embodiments, thequestion portion 877 can be configured to display a question, at a firsttime, and a subsequent question, at a second time, after the first,while in a common online session. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, thequestion portion 877 includes a question that states, “On average, howmany hours of television of you watch daily?” The user-selected answerfrom the answer portion 878 can send a signal over a network to thesocial health system (e.g., the social health system 105 shown inFIG. 1) such that the question display module 219 (FIG. 2) displays asubsequent question. Therefore, in such embodiments, the answering of aquestion displayed in the question portion 877 can trigger or causedisplay of a subsequent question that is different from the first. Insome embodiments, the answer to the question as selected by the user cantrigger or cause a specific string of questions configured to gathermore information about a given health-related topic.

The answer portion 878 included in the dashboard 878 is configured todisplay a set of pictogram answers to the question displayed in thequestion portion 877 and can be part of the health-related survey. Thepictogram answers included in the answer portion 878 are configured toinclude a pictorial representation of a statement answering the questionincluded in the question portion 877. For example, as shown in FIG. 8,the answer portion 878 includes a first pictogram answer 879, a secondpictogram answer 882, a third pictogram answer 885, and a fourthpictogram answer 888 in response to the question, “On average, how manyhours of television do you watch daily?” In this embodiment, the firstpictogram answer 879 includes a first pictogram 880 of a no symbol andincludes a value “0.” Therefore, the first pictogram 880 of the nosymbol is a pictorial representation of the value “0.” The secondpictogram answer 882 includes a second pictogram 883 of a televisionwith a first size and a value “1-2.” The third pictogram answer 885includes a third pictogram 886 of the television with a second size,larger than the first, and a value “3-4.” The fourth pictogram answer888 includes a fourth pictogram 889 of the television with a third size,larger than the second size, and a value “5+.” In this manner, the sizeof the second pictogram 883, the third pictogram 886, and the fourthpictogram 889 correspond to the second value, “1-2,” the third value“3-4” (which is larger than the second), and the fourth value, “5+”(which is larger than the third). Therefore, the pictogram answers canbe configured such that the size of the pictogram included in thepictogram answer is related to a value, such that the larger sizeequates to the larger value.

FIG. 9 is screenshot illustrating a social health system interface,according to an embodiment. The social health system interface can beestablished by any suitable hardware or software, such as thosedescribed herein, to cause a web browser 975 to display a dashboard 976.For example, a social health system interface can include a surveymodule (not shown in FIG. 9) similar to the survey module 210, describedabove with reference to FIG. 2. The web browser 975 can be any suitableweb browser 975 included in an electronic device, such that the user ofthe web browser 975 can communicate through the social health systeminterface over a network (e.g., the internet).

The dashboard 976 can include a question portion 977, an answer portion978, a badge portion 991, a level portion 994, a recommendation portion998, and a discussion portion 999. In some embodiments, the dashboard976 can define a health-related user profile configured to provideinformation to, for example, insurance companies, healthcare providers,caregivers, and/or the like. The health-related user profile can includeuser identifying information, health information about the user, and/orprescribed medications based on one or more questions contained in thequestion portion 977.

The question portion 977, the answer portion 978, the badge portion 991,the level portion 994, the recommendation portion 998, and thediscussion portion 999 of the dashboard 976 can be similar in functionto the question portion 377, the answer portion 378, the badge portion391, the level portion 394, the recommendation portion 398, and thediscussion portion 399 of the dashboard 376. Therefore, some details ofthe portions included in the dashboard 976 are not described in detailherein and should be assumed to function similarly to the correspondingportion included in the dashboard 376, unless explicit expressed.

The question portion 977 is configured to display a health-relatedquestion and can be a part of a health-related survey. For example, thequestion portion 977 can include questions about a user's health thatcould indicate to an insurance company or healthcare provider certainrisk factors associated with the user's health. In some embodiments, thequestion portion 977 can be configured to display a question, at a firsttime, and a second question, at a second time, after the first, while ina common online session. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the questionportion 977 includes a question that states, “How would you characterizeyou dental hygiene?” The user-selected answer from the answer portion978 can send a signal over a network to the social health system (e.g.,the social health system 105 shown in FIG. 1) such that the questiondisplay module 219 (FIG. 2) displays a second question. Therefore, insuch embodiments, the answering of a question displayed in the questionportion 977 can trigger or cause display of a second question that isdifferent from the first. In some embodiments, the answer to thequestion as selected by the user can trigger or cause a specific stringof questions configured to gather more information about a givenhealth-related topic.

The answer portion 978 included in the dashboard 978 is configured todisplay a set of pictogram answers to the question displayed in thequestion portion 977 and can be part of the health-related survey. Thepictogram answers included in the answer portion 978 are configured toinclude a pictorial representation of a statement answering the questionincluded in the question portion 977. For example, as shown in FIG. 9,the answer portion 978 includes a first pictogram answer 979, a secondpictogram answer 982, and a third pictogram answer 985, in response tothe question, “How would you characterize you dental hygiene?” In thisembodiment, the first pictogram answer 979 includes a first pictogram980 of a thumb up symbol and includes text that states “Very hygienic.”Therefore, the first pictogram 980 of the thumb up symbol is a pictorialrepresentation of the text “Very Hygienic.” Similarly, the secondpictogram answer 982 includes a second pictogram 983 of a hand sign forO.K. and text that states “Adequate,” and the third pictogram answer 985includes a third pictogram 986 of a thumb down symbol and text thatstates “I could do better.”

In some embodiments, the discussion portion 999 can be filtered todisplay discussions that are associated with the question that isdisplayed in the question portion 977. More specifically, the topic ofthe question displayed in the question portion 977 can trigger or causethe discussion portion 999 to filter discussions displayed in thediscussion portion 999 to said topic. For example, as shown in FIG. 9,the question associated with dental hygiene can trigger or cause thediscussion portion 999 to filter out all discussions that are notassociated with the topic of the question.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method 1000 for a health-relatedsurvey used to define a health-related profile as described herein. Themethod 1000 can be implemented by a social health system the can includea host in communication with at least one electronic device. The method1000 can be used for example, to administer a health-related surveyincluding a set of pictogram answers such as to develop a health-relateduser profile.

In some embodiments, the method 1000 includes sending a signalrepresenting a first question and a set of pictogram answers for thefirst question, at 1002. For example, in some embodiments, theelectronic device 160 is in communication with a host 105 via thenetwork 150, described with respect to FIG. 1. The host can receive auser selection of a pictogram answer from the set of pictogram answersfor the first question, at 1004. With the host having received the userselection of the pictogram answer to the first question, the host cansend a signal representing a second question and a set of pictogramanswers for the second question, at 1006. More specifically, the hostcan send the second signal representing the second question and the setof pictogram answers for the second question at a second time within acommon session, after the host receives the user-selected pictogramanswer to the first question. In some embodiments, the host device cansend the signal representing the second question and the set ofpictogram answers for the second question contemporaneously with thesignal representing the first question and the set of pictogram answersfor the first question. The host can receive a user selection of apictogram answer from the set of pictogram answers for the secondquestion, at 1008. The host can define a health-related user profilebased on the user selection for the first question and the userselection for the second question, at 1010. For example, the dashboard376 can represent a user profile for a given user, as described, withrespect to FIG. 3.

Some embodiments described herein relate to a computer storage productwith a non-transitory computer-readable medium (also can be referred toas a non-transitory processor-readable medium) having instructions orcomputer code thereon for performing various computer-implementedoperations. The computer-readable medium (or processor-readable medium)is non-transitory in the sense that it does not include transitorypropagating signals (e.g., a propagating electromagnetic wave carryinginformation on a transmission medium such as space or a cable). Themedia and computer code (also referred to herein as code) may be thosedesigned and constructed for the specific purpose or purposes. Examplesof non-transitory computer-readable media include, but are not limitedto: magnetic storage media such as hard disks, optical storage mediasuch as Compact Disc/Digital Video Discs (CD/DVDs), Compact Disc-ReadOnly Memories (CD-ROMs), magneto-optical storage media such as opticaldisks, carrier wave signal processing modules, and hardware devices thatare specially configured to store and execute program code, such asApplication-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Programmable LogicDevices (PLDs), Read-Only Memory (ROM) and Random-Access Memory (RAM)devices.

Examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, micro-code ormicro-instructions, machine instructions, such as produced by acompiler, code used to produce a web service, and files containinghigher-level instructions that are executed by a computer using aninterpreter. For example, embodiments may be implemented using Java,C++, or other programming languages and/or other development tools.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation, and as such, various changes in form and/or detail may bemade. Any portion of the apparatus and/or methods described herein maybe combined in any suitable combination, unless explicitly expressedotherwise. Where methods and/or schematics described above indicatecertain events and/or flow patterns occurring in certain order, theordering of certain events and/or flow patterns may be modified.Additionally certain events may be performed concurrently in parallelprocesses when possible, as well as performed sequentially.

1.-20. (canceled)
 21. A method, comprising: presenting, via a graphicaluser interface (GUI), a first question and a plurality of pictogramanswers for the first question including a first pictogram answerassociated with a first numerical value and a second pictogram answerassociated with a second numerical value larger than the first numericalvalue, the first question and the plurality of pictogram answers for thefirst question being presented via the GUI such that a user of the userdevice can select a first pictogram answer independent from any otherindividual; receiving, via the GUI, a user selection of the firstpictogram answer from the plurality of pictogram answers for the firstquestion; defining a health-related user profile based on the userselection for the first question; determining, by a processor operablycoupled to the GUI, that a second question is relevant to thehealth-related user profile of the user based on the selection of thefirst pictogram answer by the user, and that a third question is notrelevant to the health related user profile based on the selection ofthe first pictogram answer, the third question being (1) different fromthe second question and (2) designated for selection when the userselects the second pictogram answer; automatically presenting, via theGUI, the second question and a plurality of pictogram answers for thesecond question based on the determination that the second question isrelevant to the health-related user profile, the second question beingdifferent from the first question, the plurality of pictogram answersfor the second question being different from the plurality of pictogramanswers for the first questions, the first question and the secondquestion collectively defining at least portion of a health-relatedsurvey, the plurality of pictogram answers for the first question andthe plurality of pictogram answers for the second answer configured toengage the user more than text-only answers; receiving, via the GUI, auser selection of a pictogram answer from the plurality of pictogramanswers for the second question; and automatically updating thehealth-related user profile based on the user selection for the firstquestion and the user selection for the second question.